Method for producing titanium oxide using porous titanium compound impregnated with solution

Abstract

Provided are: an alkali metal titanium oxide having a uniform composition and that is such that there are no residual by-products having a different composition or unreacted starting materials; and a method for producing a titanium oxide and proton exchange body obtained by processing the alkali metal titanium oxide. The method produces an alkali metal titanium oxide by firing the result of impregnating the surface and inside of pores of porous titanium compound particles with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal-containing component. The alkali metal titanium oxide is subjected to proton exchange, and with the proton exchange body of the alkali metal titanium oxide as the starting material, the titanium oxide is produced through a heat processing step.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for producing an alkali metal titanium oxide, comprising impregnating a pore interior and a surface of a porous titanium compound particle with an alkali metal-containing component, and firing the particle, wherein the porous titanium compound particle has a specific surface area of 50 m 2 /g or larger and smaller than 1,000 m 2 /g, and the porous titanium compound particle has a particle size of 0.1 μm or larger and smaller than 100 μm. 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous titanium compound particle has a particle size of 0.5 μm or larger and smaller than 50 μm. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous titanium compound particle has a specific surface area of 50 m 2 /g or larger and smaller than 600 m 2 /g. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the alkali metal titanium oxide has a specific surface area of 0.1 m 2 /g or larger and smaller than 10 m 2 /g. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the impregnation with the alkali metal-containing component is suspending the porous titanium compound particle in an aqueous solution of an alkali metal compound with a pH of 8 or higher. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein ultrasonic wave irradiation is conducted during the impregnation with the alkali metal-containing component. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous titanium compound particle is dried before the impregnation with the alkali metal-containing component. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the alkali metal titanium oxide has a shape of a secondary particle made by assembly of primary particles with anisotropic structure. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the alkaline metal titanium oxide has a shape of a primary particle with isotropic structure.